deli
Americannoun
plural
delis-
a delicatessen.
-
food typically sold at a delicatessen, as cold cuts, salads, and pickles.
noun
Etymology
Origin of deli
First recorded in 1950–55; by shortening
Explanation
A deli is a market where you can buy prepared food or shop for staples including meat and cheese. You might have a favorite neighborhood deli where you go every morning for a bagel and coffee. The word deli is a shortened form, or common nickname, of delicatessen, an American English version of the German delikatessen, the plural of delikatesse, "delicacy," or "fine food." Many delis specialize in the food of a certain region, country, or ethnicity — like a Jewish deli, a German deli, or a Greek deli. You can usually buy sandwiches, salads, drinks, and specialty foods at delis.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You turn around and a beautiful building is gone or a great deli is out of business.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
BBC news understands that Craigies - which also operates a cafe, farm shop and deli - has remained open since the cases were identified.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
If the knife gets me started, and the pan builds flavor, and the lemon makes things sing, the deli containers are what make it all sustainable.
From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026
According to Puerta, North was seriously injured late last year when he was hit by a car as he walked into Fromin’s deli in Santa Monica.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
"You mean spend the next thousand years running a deli?"
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
